All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 1, Number 8, March 30, 2008

Earlier this week I was able to spend a few days on retreat at the Society of St. John the Evangelist’s monastery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Whenever I have been near Boston for a conference or meeting, I have always tried to stop in and pray at the SSJE chapel.  Organized in 1865, the SSJE is the oldest Anglican religious order (after Henry VIII dissolved English monasteries in the 1530s.)  Though the English order has dwindled, the American branch is thriving.  Some of you know the brothers, and I hope that before long we can make an All Souls retreat either to the guesthouse in Cambridge or the one in West Newbury, Massachusetts.

The monastery chapel was designed by Ralph Adams Cram in 1936 and is an exquisite space.  Romanesque, stony and dark, the space itself invites prayer.  I look forward to its spare beauty, to the careful liturgy of the monks, and to the sense of peace I have always found there.

But this time, when I entered the chapel, I was surprised to see a large fabric icon of Jesus hanging behind the altar.  Caught off guard, I’m sure I must have made a face at the Face.  I’m glad no one saw my smirk as I thought to myself, “Some bored monk is trying to be creative.  Why can’t people just leave well enough alone and let the beauty of the space speak for itself?”  And then it hit me.  Or perhaps I should say “He“ hit me, or “She” hit me.  The Holy Spirit hit me, with my own sermon from Easter Sunday.  I had encouraged us to be open to the risen Christ, especially in the everyday and the ordinary, in ways that surprise and challenge.  A literal image of Jesus was staring at me in an unexpected place, and my first reaction had been annoyance!

Over the next few days, I came to love that icon of Jesus floating in the chapel.  An icon is, after all, a window.  And this one helped remind me to look for Jesus elsewhere—in the drunken man being dragged out of the Au Bon Pain in Cambridge, and in the police dragging him; in the monks and the others on retreat; in the joggers along the Charles River; in the passengers on the train and even in the tourists descending upon Washington in search of cherry blossoms.  Easter faith reminds me to look for the risen Christ in each of you, and even in myself.  May God give us eyes to see and hearts to be open as Easter continues to unfold around us.  John Beddingfield

Your prayers are asked for . . . Jean Watson, Bryan Powell, Arthur (Buddy) Ball, Roger Dixon and family, Veronica Horn, Walter Jason, Martha Holdgate, Chip Meyers, Mary Backus, Mike Berman, Xavier de la Renaudiere, Trent, Owen Basil, Regina Dading, Julia Gutierrez and Ted Field.  In addition to this prayer list, if you wish to participate in our ongoing Internet Prayer Circle please contact Vicki Lowe  . . . On Good Friday, March 21, the Right Reverend Ronald Hayward Haines, VII Bishop of Washington, died of cancer at his home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Details about a service at the cathedral celebrating his life will be forthcoming.  Please pray for the repose of the soul of Ronald, bishop, for his family and for all who mourn.

Around the Parish . . . Thanks to everyone who helped make Holy Week and Easter Sunday so extraordinary.  Readers, acolytes, ushers, singers, volunteers in the nursery, the kitchen, the reception and coffee hours—all were essential to our hosting visitors, guests and friends of All Souls . . . The Garden Guild will meet on Saturday, April 5.  Look for a  list of tasks that will be posted by Tom Mabon . . . The Rector will be attending his twice-yearly seminar on family systems Monday, April 1 through Wednesday, April 3, in West Virginia . . . Attendance Maundy Thursday: 88, Good Friday: 74, Great Vigil of Easter: 103, Easter Sunday 8:30: 62, Easter Sunday 11:00 a.m.: 337 . . . Total pledge offerings received this week were $12,569.00.  Total plate offering was $3,294.00.

The Heifer Project at All Souls raised $6,067 which allows us to benefit over 50 families in the first year and an additional 50 families each subsequent year, as each new family "passes on" the first animal born from its gift.  Our money allows for the purchase of animals, hives of bees, flocks of chicks and tree seedlings.  At the request of Embry Howell, a portion of our gift will go to Tanzania where Embry visited last summer.  Charles Boone and Carolyn Farmer

Newsletters in the Undercroft . . The April/May issue of The Message is available for you in the Undercroft. This saves the church the cost of mailing expenses.

The Adult Forum at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 30, will focus on Episcopal Relief and Development and will be led by parishioner Erwin de Leon.  Come and learn more about how, through ERD, the Episcopal Church provides emergency assistance in times of disaster, rebuilds devastated communities, and offers long-term program development solutions to fight poverty in the United States and around the world.  

Liturgical Notes . . . Since St. Joseph’s Day and the Annunciation fell within Easter Week, the Church transfers these feasts to the week following the Second Sunday of Easter . . . The flowers on the high altar today are given to the glory of God by Sybil de la Renaudière in loving memory of her son, Paul Justin Johnson . . . If you donated to the Easter Flowers Fund, please feel free to take one of the potted Easter lilies home with you after the 11:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday.

Elections for Vestry . . . At the annual meeting of All Souls Parish on May 18, 2008, the congregation will elect a junior warden and three members of vestry. Nomination forms can be found in the April/May edition of The Message.

The Bell Guild Needs You . . . The ranks of the Bell Guild have thinned, and in order to have our beautiful Tower Bells rung regularly for Sunday services we very much need new people. The time commitment and necessary skills are minimal but the rewards are resounding.  The benefits reverberate.  If you would like to try your hand, contact George Barnum by email or at 202-986-2998.

Picturing the Parish . . . This is the last Sunday to sign up at church or sign up on line until Wednesday, April 2.  There are still a few times open Thursday, Friday and Saturday so check the listing in the Undercroft or the online calendar accessible on the parish website.  All who have signed up can stop by the table in the Undercroft to check times and pick up a Portrait Sitting Guide.  Thanks to the people who have already signed up to be hosts, but we can still use a few more.  Call the Domenicos at 202.364.5349 or email.

Readings for the Daily Office. . . Come from the lectionary in the back of the Book of Common Prayer.

All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church

The Reverend John Beddingfield, rector; The Reverend Christopher Worthley, adjunct clergy; Mr. Isaac Borocz, parish administrator; Mr. Arthur Roach, interim director of music and organist; Mr. Oscar Prado, sexton

2300 Cathedral Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008-1505
Voice: 202-232-4244, Fax: 202-232-8593
Email: allsouls1@aol.com
www.allsoulsdc.org

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